EDITED 12/23/2017 Changed Hotwire to Kiloton. A remnant of a different vision for Regenerated that wasn't as G1 centric (and also since Ask Vector Prime introduced Kiloton as a character whom Megatron was... particularly close to).
CHAPTER ELEVEN
"... And so it is with that, my fellow Cybertronians, I leave you," Sentinel Prime said. "If anyone has any concerns nagging their spark, speak them now or forever hold your peace."
Naturally, the crowd erupted into chaos; journalists and news-bots moved to the front, those angered with the Prime flailed their arms meaninglessly, and others merely shouted for the sake of shouting. Lockdown supposed that now as a good time as any for an abrupt end to the clamor.
Steadying himself, he aimed the sniper rifle directly at Sentinel Prime's head. After taking the time to savor the moment, he pulled the trigger. The sight of the Prime's head exploding was truly a sight worth remembering. The panic of the crowd even more so.
With a cruel smile of satisfaction, Lockdown stood up and turned to leave... only to have a large fist slam into his face.
As the mercenary fell, he heard a gruff voice say, "I've got him, sir."
"Good work, Warpath," a second one said. "Jazz, Landshark, restrain him."
As two mechs moved to place stasis cuffs and mode locks onto him, Lockdown's vision finally cleared enough for him to see those standing before him. Forefront was the red brute who had hit him, Warpath. To the right was a large blue and red Autobot, whom he recognized as Ultra Magnus, leader of the Elite Guard... but the third one's identity shocked him the most.
Sentinel Prime, Autobot leader. Whom he had killed barely a minute ago.
Lockdown stared in bafflement at the tall, regal figure. "I... I killed you!"
Sentinel Prime smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Did you? I seem to be alive and well, otherwise we wouldn't be speaking. Unless, of course, you have died as well."
Turning to Ultra Magnus, he said, "Tell Wheeljack that I owe him for inventing those facsimile constructs."
Grabbing Lockdown by his cuffs, Sentinel Prime dragged the mercenary towards the front of the rooftop they stood on so that the still-panicking crowd could see them both.
"Fear not, my fellow Cybertronians!" the Prime said. "I have not yet perished. What you saw was merely a decoy, to protect myself from wrongdoers such as this mech here, who was planning to assassinate me!"
Lockdown looked up at him bemusedly. "How did you-?"
"Your master has spies," Sentinel murmured. "So do I."
To the crowd, he said, "As I said earlier, justice shall be delivered. This mercenary shall be given a fair trail and no doubt be proven guilty. Yet again, I assure you that the order of the Golden Age shall be preserved, no matter the cot!"
Their previous rancor forgotten, the crowd cheered upon their leader. Lockdown almost found it amusing how quick these people changed their moods, depending on the situation. As Ultra Magnus and his men carried him away, the mercenary could not help but smile at the irony of it all.
That no matter who was in charge or whatever choices they made, Cybertron was forever pron to discord.
* * *
"So the mission went well, I take it?"
Optronix took a sip from the glass of liquid energon Chief Switch Blade had provided him. "Yes, we've captured several Stunticons who were, one way or another, involved with Momus' assassination. We have yet to capture the culprits Frenzy and Rumble, however."
"They shall come within our reach eventually." The blue and white Autobot observed the rising sun through his office's window. "Depth Charge was right about you; you are indeed experienced, both in combat and leadership skills."
Optronix grunted. "At least no one died. Then things would be a bit different."
Switch Blade turned and frowned at face him. "You are quite perturbed by death, aren't you?" When Optronix did not respond, the chief continued. "I understand that you command a team within the Elite Guard and have led a few others in the past. Have you... lost someone from anyone of those teams?"
His look a pensive one, Optronix said quietly, "One from each."
Switch Blade mouth fell agape. "By Primus...."
Optronix looked up at him. "I led three teams while in the Elite Guard. The first one, when I was stationed in Rodion, my best friend Dion was abducted somewhere in Polyhex. No one's found him since.
"The second team, when I was serving in Kalis, there was a young 'bot named Zoom. Didn't really know him as well, but he was a good kid... until he rushed headfirst into combat with a rogue Guardian drone and got himself killed."
"And the third?" Switch Blade asked when Optronix paused.
The Elite Guardsman sighed. "It was at Helex. Team of five. My deputy was a femme called Kiloton. We... were close. In fact, the day before she got infected by Corrodia Gravis, I asked her to become my Conjunx Endura."
"'Significant other,'" Switch Blade murmured, translating the term from its archaic roots. "I'm sorry, Optronix-"
"Don't be," Optronix grunted, rising from his seat. "We all need our scars. I just happen to have quite a few."
With that, the Elite Guardsman left, leaving Switch Blade alone to watch the sunrise.
* * *
"Think you can walk?"
With little effort, Orion Pax climbed off of the repair berth and began walking around the infirmary room.
"I sure can," he said with a grin. "Thanks, doc."
Ratchet smiled back. "Don't mention it, it's why I get paid. Have you heard back from Optronix yet?"
Orion shook his head. "I sent him a message on his comlink, but I'm sure he's busy with other things." He then shrugged. "I'll probably try again in another deca-cycle."
"All right," Ratchet replied, offering Orion his hand. "I hope we'll meet again, Orion Pax."
Orion smiled as he shook it. "I'm sure we will. Later."
As he headed down the Central Infirmary's main hallway, he took notice of a crippled 'bot in a hoverchair, staring intently at him with cold yellow optics.
"Er, can I help you?" Orion asked.
With a raspy voice, the crippled mech said, "What do you believe in?"
Orion blinked. "Beg your pardon?"
"Primus. The Guiding Hand. The Thirteen. The Knights of Cybertron. Which do you believe in?"
"I... I'm afraid I don't believe in any of those, sir."
"The Primes, then. Surely you believe in the Primes."
"Well, if you mean 'bots like Sentinel Prime and Nova Prime, then sure. I mean, they definitely exist-"
"But what about before either of them? Before Sentinel, before Nova. What came before them?"
"I honestly don't know, sir," Orion said uneasily as he started to leave. "Good day."
"Know your legacy, boy!" the old bot called after him. "The Darkest Hour is upon us and only he can-!"
Orion did not hear the last of his disjointed speech, for the Infirmary's closed doors muffled any noises from either side.
EPILOGUE
Even at night, the erected statue of the legendary Ark was a sight to behold. The moonlight given off by Luna-2 made the sculpture's gold finish gleam magnificently, just like the symbol of hope it was meant to represent when it took off thousands of years ago. Only Primus knew what fate befell the Ark's crew.
The Mastermind's attention was detracted from the memorial only by the arrival of the person he was waiting for.
"Ah, Soundwave," he said to the blue mech as he walked up to the bench he was sitting on. "I'm glad you could make it. Please, take a seat."
"I prefer to stand, thank you," Soundwave said coldly.
"Suit yourself," the Mastermind said. "So, how is Councilor Ratbat faring?"
"He is still recovering from the damage caused by the cerebro-shell," the spy replied. "If circumstances were different, I would not have been able to leave his side on my own accord."
"I understand." The Mastermind let out a sigh. "It's a pity that Motormaster and his Stunticons were captured."
"I have calculated a twenty-five point eleven percent chance that any of them will confess to the exact details of their involvement in the plan."
The Mastermind smiled. "I do hope you turn out to be right about that. Of course, I have no reason to doubt you."
Soundwave did not confirm nor deny that statement. Instead, he said, "What of the failed assassination attempt on Sentinel Prime?"
"I will admit that I was surprised by the trick Sentinel pulled. I know now not to doubt his cunning and wisdom."
"So what is out next course of action?"
"I have taken an interest in the Autobot called Optronix, who turned in the Stunticons. Lord Trannis tells me that he also briefly met with him and agrees that he is someone to keep an eye on."
"Are we to capture him, then?"
The Mastermind let out a hearty laugh. "Straightforward as always, Soundwave. No, we shall wait until the time is right. Then, we shall lure him to us through means contrived for such purposes."
He looked up and smiled at the spy. "The day of the Decepticon Empire's return is nigh, Soundwave. Someone has to rule it."
"Is Trannis or the other warlords not sufficient?"
The Mastermind grinned deviously. "A new era calls for a new face, Soundwave. And I already have one pictured in my mind."
TO BE CONTINUED
EDITED 6/30/2014 Altered Optronix's statement about his fallen teams so I could make Dion having been an Elite Guardsman. I intended to have him be so but goofed up.
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